Pile driving apparatus



June 18,1935.

M. SCHALSCHA FILE DRIVING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1935 INVENTOR. 5&4

Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED sTATss PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pile driving apparatus and has particular reference to an improvement in 'theconstruction and operation of the lower end of the pile driving units with especial reference to the improvement-of the base members to be disposed on top of the pile members and the cooperation therewith of the usual impact blocks.

An object of the invention is to support the base member and the impact block with respect to each other and the lower end of the hammer casing in a flexible manner so that the parts are durable to withstand through long use the impacts of the hammer without cracking or becoming broken due to excessive rigidity.

A further object is to provide a novel form of shock absorbing and cushioning means disposed beneath the impact block so as to preserve the impact block and base member from rapid destruction.

A further object is to permit a reasonable flexible movement between the impact block and the base member and between the base member and the casing.

Further and more specific objects, features and advantages will more clearly appear from a consideration of the specification hereinafter taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification and which illustrates a present preferred form of the invention.

Briefly considered the invention includes an impact block mounted on a base member disposed on top of the pile to be driven with a plurality of shock absorbing cushioning metal plates disposed beneath the impact block so that a certain cushioning movement of the block is permitted under the impact of the hammer. The base member is also supported within the lower end of the hammer casing for a certain amount of movement of the base memher with respect to the casing whereby further flexibility is provided for the movement of the base member to protect it from too great a strain under the impact of the hammer if it were fastened rigidly to the casing. This flexibility is also for the purpose of allowing the base member a certain amount of 'movement to more flexibly transmit the blows of the hammer to the pile.

The base member is provided with an upright flange containing a chamber in which the impact block is axially disposed with the cushion-- ing filler plates in the chamber beneath the block. Pins within the chamber cooperate with shoulders on the block to limit its upward movement therein. The cylindrical flange on the top of the base member is, itself, adapted to be slidably and axially disposed within the supporting cylinder disposed within the lower end of the hammer casing preferably by means of bolts. The outer surface of the cylindrical flange is provided with spaced grooves of predetermined length cooperating with stop pins on the inner face of the cylindrical supporting ring to limit the axial movement of the base member in both directions. In this manner the base member can move flexibly with respect to the casing, and the impact block can move flexibly with respect to the base member. The blows of the hammer on the impact block are transmitted to the base member and from it to the pile in a cushioned manner by reason of the disposition of the metal, preferably steel, filler plates disposed beneath the impact blocks. The impact block is kept from jumping out of this chamber by means of the stop pins above mentioned. It will be observed that in the form of the impact block and base flange having a circular contour, the construction above mentioned will permit also of a rotative motion between the impact block and its enclosing chamher and between the base and the casing so as to further insure and increase the flexibility of the device. It will also be noted that the im-.-. pact block in addition to its axial movement is permitted by reason of its construction to have a certain amount of axial deviation or swing as well as its movement along the axis and its rotary movement. Similarly the base member not only has rotary motion and axial motion with respect to the casing but also has a certain amount of axial deviation or tilting motion to increase its flexibility, this permits th base member to be set over the piling without making it necessary for the hammer. itself to be indirect line or parallel line of the piling to be driven. This flexibility is achieved by reason of the quaisi-ball-and-socket connection between the impact plug and the base and the base and the casing.

The present preferred form of the invention is shown in the drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is a section of the lower end of the unit; v

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken on the line Z2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-section taken 'on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

1 The preferred form of the invention as shown in the drawing, comprises a pile driving apparatus having a casing Ni and a reciprocatory hammer H. In the lower end of the casing a ring i2 is supported by means of transversely extending bolts I3 fastened in the end of the casing it and held to the ring l2 by means of plates id. Slidable axially within the ring I2 is a circular flange i5 extending upwardly from a base member it. This base member is pro vided with downwardly spaced lugs ll, for the purpose of engaging with the top edge of a pile, in the form of a sheet. If the base member is put on the ordinary round pile these lugs E? can be dispensed with. The flange l5 which may be curved, square, or any other shape to correspond with the cross section of the support member 12 is provided with grooves Q8 of predetermined length with which pins 19 I cooperate. These pins are fastened or keyed to the inner face of the supporting member I 2 to permit axial movement of the base member It, but limiting this movement in both directions. This construction, it will be observed, will also permit the base member to have a slight tiltable movement with respect to its axis so that this axial deviation will permit the base to be set on top of a pile and be effective even in places where the direction of the hammer blow will not be exactly parallel to the pile. This construction will, therefore, increase the flexibility of the movement of the base. When the flangeifi is circular in shape the base is also thus permitted a rotary motion within the ring thereby increasing the flexibility of motion permitted to the base member.

Formed within the flange i5 is a chamber in which the impact block 2E] is disposed for axial movement. This-impact block is provided with shoulders 22 engageable with pins 2| formed on the inner upper face of the member l5 to limit the upward movement of the impact block 20. The fact that the upper end of the impact block is of smaller diameter will permit axial movement in its up and down movement and thereby increase the flexibility of its movement with respect to the base member. The impact block also is permitted a rotary motion within its chamber when it is of circular shape.

Disposed beneath the impact block 2!! within the chamber formed by the flange I5 are a plurality of relatively thin metal cushioning or filler plates preferably made of steel for the purpose of absorbing the shocks of the hammer H and allowing a certain flexibility of movement of the impact block 20 and preventing the base member H: from being too rapidly broken or destroyed by the hammer impacts.

It will be observed, therefore, that when the hammer H descends it hits the impact block 2&3. The block moves downwardly into contact with the filler cushioning plates 23 and the blow is transmitted to the base member [6 and from it to the pile on which it is disposed. This blow of the hammer would also tend to break the base member if it were rigidly connected to the casing ii], but by reason of the fact that a certain amount of movement is permitted between the base member and the casing this will permit the shock of the hammer to be transmitted to the pile without serious injury to either the impact block or the base member.

It also will be seen that there is, therefore, a flexible movement, both axial and tiltable and rotary in character, between the base member and the casing and between the base member and the impact block and that there is disposed between the impact block and the base member a plurality of shock absorbing cushioning metal plates preferably of steel.

It has been found by the use of this arrangement and construction that the unit will stand up under continued usage for eflicient operation over a much greater period of time and will also stand greater and heavier blows than before, without damage. Of course, the size and thickness of the cushioning plates may be increased according to the requirements of the units used, the blocks will be greater in diameter and preferably greater in thickness. The number of filler plates employed for a particular unit depends entirely upon the power of the unit and the use to which it is to be put.

While the invention has been described in detail and with respect to a present preferred form thereof it is not to be limited to such details and forms since many changes and modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspects. Hence it is desired to cover any and all forms and modifications of the invention which may come within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

What is claimed, is:

1. In a pile driving apparatus, the combination of a supporting casing, a base supported from said casing, and means for supporting the base flexibly from the casing whereby it can move in a plurality of directions relative to the casing under the impact of a hammer.

2. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be placed on top of the piles and having a block chamber, an impact block disposed in said chamber, said block being disposed somewhat loosely for movement within the chamber whereby it can move relatively in a plurality of directions under the impact of a hammer.

3. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be placed on top of the piles and having a block chamber, an impact block disposed in said chamber, said block being disposed somewhat loosely within the chamber whereby it can move relatively in a plurality of directions under impact of a hammer, and shock absorbing cushioning means disposed between the block and the base.

4. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be disposed on top of the pile to be driven and having a block chamber, a hammer casing, means for supporting the base flexibly from the hammer casing whereby it can move relatively in a plurality of directions under the impact of the hammer, an impact block mounted in said chamber, said block being somewhat loosely disposed within the chamber whereby it can move flexibly under impact with respect to the base.

5. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be disposed on top of the pile to be driven, a hammer casing, means connecting the base with the hammer casing for flexible movement of the base under the impact of the hammer, an impact block mounted on the base, said block being somewhat loosely disposed for movement on the base whereby it can have flexible movement under impact with respect to the base, and shock absorbing cushioning means disposed beneath the impact block.

6. In a pile driving apparatus, a base to be placed on top of a pile to be driven and having a block chamber, an impact block supported 1 somewhat loosely in said chamber for flexible movement, and a plurality of shock absorbing cushioning metal sheets disposed beneath the block.

7. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be placed on top of the pile to be driven, said base member having an impact block receiving chamber, an impact block disposed in said chamber somewhat loosely for flexible movement, means on the chamber and associated with said block to limit the upward movement of the block in the chamber, and a plurality of steel shock absorbing cushioning sheets disposed within the chamber beneath the block.

8. In a pile driving apparatus, a base member to be placed on top of the pile to be driven, said base member having an impact block receiving chamber, an impact block disposed in said chamer somewhat loosely for flexible movement, means on the chamber and associated with said block to limit the upward movement of the block in the chamber, and a plurality of steel shock absorbing cushioning sheets disposed Within the chamber beneath the block, a hammer casing, and means for flexibly supporting said base member from the hammer casing whereby it can have flexible movement under impact of the base member with respect to the casing.

9. In a pile driving apparatus, a base memher to be placed on top of a pile to be driven, a cylindrical flange on top of said base member forming a chamber, an impact block disposed somewhat loosely for flexible movement in said chamber, stop pins in the chamber, the block having shoulders to engage with said pins on upward movement to limit said movement, and a plurality of steel cushioning sheets disposed within the chamber beneath the block.

MAX SCHALSCHA. 

